Development of a Scale to Measure the Marketing Behaviour of Vegetable Farmers

Marketing behaviour is the attitude and/or conduct of a person towards marketing activities. Marketing decisions made by the farmer are based on factors such as commodity, quantity and quality of produce, distance from market, transportation facilities, risk bearing ability, innovativeness, etc. The study of marketing behaviour of the farmer could help in promoting inclusive markets with the direct participation of farmers leading to better profit margins. In the present study a scale was developed to measure the marketing behaviour of vegetable farmers. The items generated rated for relevance by expert judges and after item selection; it was administered to respondents for scoring. This was followed by factor analysis using principal component analysis. The scale was standardized after reliability testing using Cronbach's alpha and scale validation using content analysis. The final scale covered seven dimensions, viz., production oriented decisions, planning orientation, farm enterprise management, enterprise planning, technology oriented marketing, market based production preferences and quality oriented production with 27 statements

Stakeholder Analysis for Farmer inclusive Value chain Development in Mango

Mango is being cultivated over a substantial area in Palakkad District of Kerala state. Being one of the significant agricultural commodity value chains existing in Kerala, the mango value chain of Palakkad district needs urgent attention to improve its performance. The study highlights the stakeholder analysis and SWOC matrix analysis of the mango sector. Stakeholders were asked to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in the mango sector. Based on the highest score obtained, four strategic options viz., enhancing value addition and product development, promotion of branding, educating the farmers on building competitiveness and increasing export potential by addressing quality parameters were identified

Prospects of lead farmer concept for improved livestock development among rural communities in Malawi

ABSTRAC

Sustainability of Traditional Rice Cultivation in Kerala, India—A Socio-Economic Analysis

Traditional rice cultivars and cultivation are on the decline in most rice-growing areas, mainly as a result of their low productivity. Packed with nutritionally, environmentally and locally superior qualities, traditional cultivars hold the key for sustainability in rice cultivation. This study explored the dynamics of traditional rice cultivation in Kerala, India. It examined the economic, institutional and socio demographic factors involved in the production and marketing of traditional rice. We employed a multinomial logit model and discriminant function analysis to extract the key factors governing farmers’ marketing behaviour, and various cost measures to study the economics of rice enterprises. The socio-demographic factors were analysed using descriptive statistical tools. Holding size and institutional support were the main factors governing the marketing behaviour of farmers. Even though traditional rice farming was not found to be cost-effective in implicit terms, it was remunerative when imputed personal labour and owned land costs were not considered. The study found that traditional farmers are ageing, have a lower education and use limited marketing channels. However, the majority of them were satisfied with their farm enterprise. By streamlining the market support mechanism and processing facilities, traditional rice would most likely gain momentum in key areas

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Not AvailableThe study was conducted to analyze the impact of market-led extension in the marketing pattern and empowerment of smallholder farmers of India. Since market-led extension activities mostly implemented through self help groups (SHGs) 60 marginal vegetable farmers with SHG membership and another 60 marginal vegetable farmers with no SHG membership selected as the respondents. Results conveyed that SHG farmers marketed vegetables mainly through farmers’ markets. But, majority of the non-SHG farmers sold vegetables through commission agents. Empowerment analysis done using the criteria of ≥75% of maximum attainable score showed significant differences between the empowerment status of SHG and non-SHG farmers. About 62% of SHG farmers found empowered because of their participation in SHGs whereas very few (2%) of the non-SHG farmers showed empowerment. It was also found that social recognition is the prime variable influenced the empowerment of SHG farmers followed by income generation. Though only a few non-SHG farmers showed empowerment again social recognition identified as the major variable contributed to their empowerment score followed by innovativeness. Since social recognition played prime role in the empowerment process of both SHG and non- SHG farmers it could be considered as the precursor of empowerment process. It is evident from the study that in order to convert social recognition to empowerment a reasonable level of income generation is also necessary. To extend the benefits of market-led extension to more rural farmers the technology dissemination system should also be improved by incorporating those grass root level organizations (public/private) working among them.Not Availabl

Risk of COVID-19 after natural infection or vaccinationResearch in context

Background: While vaccines have established utility against COVID-19, phase 3 efficacy studies have generally not comprehensively evaluated protection provided by previous infection or hybrid immunity (previous infection plus vaccination). Individual patient data from US government-supported harmonized vaccine trials provide an unprecedented sample population to address this issue. We characterized the protective efficacy of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against COVID-19 early in the pandemic over three-to six-month follow-up and compared with vaccine-associated protection. Methods: In this post-hoc cross-protocol analysis of the Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, we allocated participants into four groups based on previous-infection status at enrolment and treatment: no previous infection/placebo; previous infection/placebo; no previous infection/vaccine; and previous infection/vaccine. The main outcome was RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 >7–15 days (per original protocols) after final study injection. We calculated crude and adjusted efficacy measures. Findings: Previous infection/placebo participants had a 92% decreased risk of future COVID-19 compared to no previous infection/placebo participants (overall hazard ratio [HR] ratio: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05–0.13). Among single-dose Janssen participants, hybrid immunity conferred greater protection than vaccine alone (HR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.10). Too few infections were observed to draw statistical inferences comparing hybrid immunity to vaccine alone for other trials. Vaccination, previous infection, and hybrid immunity all provided near-complete protection against severe disease. Interpretation: Previous infection, any hybrid immunity, and two-dose vaccination all provided substantial protection against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 through the early Delta period. Thus, as a surrogate for natural infection, vaccination remains the safest approach to protection. Funding: National Institutes of Health

Risk of COVID-19 after natural infection or vaccinationResearch in context

Summary: Background: While vaccines have established utility against COVID-19, phase 3 efficacy studies have generally not comprehensively evaluated protection provided by previous infection or hybrid immunity (previous infection plus vaccination). Individual patient data from US government-supported harmonized vaccine trials provide an unprecedented sample population to address this issue. We characterized the protective efficacy of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against COVID-19 early in the pandemic over three-to six-month follow-up and compared with vaccine-associated protection. Methods: In this post-hoc cross-protocol analysis of the Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, we allocated participants into four groups based on previous-infection status at enrolment and treatment: no previous infection/placebo; previous infection/placebo; no previous infection/vaccine; and previous infection/vaccine. The main outcome was RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 >7–15 days (per original protocols) after final study injection. We calculated crude and adjusted efficacy measures. Findings: Previous infection/placebo participants had a 92% decreased risk of future COVID-19 compared to no previous infection/placebo participants (overall hazard ratio [HR] ratio: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05–0.13). Among single-dose Janssen participants, hybrid immunity conferred greater protection than vaccine alone (HR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.10). Too few infections were observed to draw statistical inferences comparing hybrid immunity to vaccine alone for other trials. Vaccination, previous infection, and hybrid immunity all provided near-complete protection against severe disease. Interpretation: Previous infection, any hybrid immunity, and two-dose vaccination all provided substantial protection against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 through the early Delta period. Thus, as a surrogate for natural infection, vaccination remains the safest approach to protection. Funding: National Institutes of Health